Top criminal Sonet, associate arrested in Narsingdi with foreign pistol

Police have arrested Sonet Molla, known as a top criminal, and his associate Rakib Mia in Narsingdi, recovering a foreign pistol, a magazine and seven rounds of bullets.

According to police, Sonet Molla faces 29 cases involving robbery, murder, abduction, drugs and arms, among other offences. Rakib Mia faces 11 cases.

Narsingdi Additional Superintendent of Police (Crime) Md Ashiqur Rahman shared the information at a press conference held on the premises of Narsingdi Sadar Model Police Station on Monday afternoon.

Police said the two were arrested in separate raids in Banti area of Narayanganj district and Shalidha area of Narsingdi late on Sunday night.

Arrested Sonet Molla, 38, is the son of Badal Molla of Satirpara neighbourhood in Narsingdi town. His associate and brother-in-law Rakib Mia, 28, is the son of the late Siddique Mia of Shalidha.

At the press conference, Md Ashiqur Rahman said that acting on secret information, Narsingdi Sadar police raided the Panchrukhi bus stand area in Narayanganj district on Sunday night and arrested Sonet Molla. He was then interrogated extensively.

Based on information obtained during interrogation and as shown by Sonet, police recovered an illegal foreign pistol, a magazine and seven rounds of bullets from an empty place behind the house of Manik Mia in Shalidha neighbourhood of Narsingdi town.

Police claimed Sonet had stockpiled the arms and ammunition to establish dominance in the area and run extortion and criminal activities. Preparations are under way to file a case against him under the Arms Act.

In a separate raid the same night, the district detective branch (DB) police arrested Sonet's associate Rakib Mia.

Additional Superintendent of Police Md Ashiqur Rahman further said that Sonet Molla faces a total of 29 cases in Narsingdi and other districts, involving robbery, murder, abduction, drugs and arms, among other offences.